{"id":265090,"date":"2026-02-10T13:32:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T18:32:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=265090"},"modified":"2026-02-10T13:32:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T18:32:01","slug":"offensive-coordinators-set-up-to-fail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2026\/02\/10\/offensive-coordinators-set-up-to-fail\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Offensive Coordinators Are Set Up To Fail In The NFL"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the NFL, offensive coordinators are set up to fail. They’re often hired like visionaries and fired like interns who forgot to refill the coffee pot.<\/p>\n

They arrive with buzzwords attached to their resumes. “Innovative.” “Quarterback whisperer.” “Scheme fit.” Teams parade them at press conferences as the missing piece, the modern solution, the guy who is finally going to unlock everything that has been broken for years.<\/p>\n

Then the season starts.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, the quarterback needs more time. The offensive line is \u201ca work in progress.\u201d The roster is \u201cstill being built.\u201d Injuries pile up. The schedule turns brutal. The defense cannot get off the field. The general manager reminds everyone that this is a long-term plan.<\/p>\n

But the offensive coordinator? He is expected to deliver results immediately. Preferably yesterday.<\/p>\n

If the offense sputters, if third downs dry up, if red zone efficiency drops, the diagnosis is instant. The play calling just is not there. The offense \u201clacks identity.\u201d The scheme \u201cis not a fit.\u201dAnd just like that, the organization turns the coordinator into the most expendable adult in the building.<\/p>\n

Why Offensive Coordinators Are Set Up To Fail In The NFL<\/h2>\n
\"Why
Jul 24, 2025; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly during training camp at the Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Expectations Never Match The Reality<\/h3>\n

Take Kliff Kingsbury<\/a>\u2019s recent stint in Washington<\/a>. You do not have to think he is elite to recognize the setup. New system. New quarterback situation. Roster questions across the board. A franchise still figuring out who it is and what timeline it is actually on.<\/p>\n

What exactly was the expectation? That one offseason would magically override years of instability? That the coordinator alone would fix protection issues, quarterback development, and personnel mismatches while everyone else enjoyed the benefit of context?<\/p>\n